Argus News - Breaking News: Opening Day of Puri Ratna Bhandar Inventory Concludes, Drone Scare at Jagannath Temple

Puri, Mar 25: After a gap of 48 years, the long-awaited inventory of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure chamber) of the Jagannath Temple in Puri has been conducted, marking a historic moment.

The first phase of the counting began Wednesday with the movable treasury, where ornaments used in daily rituals and special occasions were weighed and catalogued.

On the auspicious Mahendra Bela at 12:09 pm, the official team entered the Ratna Bhandar after offering prayers at the Singhadwar (Lion Gate). The process, which concluded at around 6:10 pm, lasted nearly six hours on the opening day.

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Members of the Ratna Bhandar Committee, led by Justice Biswanath Rath, supervised the proceedings. Officials entered the sanctum in traditional attire, taking an oath of secrecy and pledging not to carry any metals or personal items inside.

The inventory was conducted with strict transparency and security measures, including photography, videography, and 3D mapping. Gold, silver, and precious stones were separated into three categories and placed on velvet cloths of yellow, white, and red for systematic counting.

Supervising and handling teams had earlier been formed, comprising gemologists, government bankers, RBI officials, and officers from the Mines and Geology Department. In total, 23 members were part of the process, with 13 entering the treasury chamber.

On the first day, officials recorded 299 bhori of gold ornaments across eight types and 2600 bhori of silver ornaments across 23 types. Items included the Lord’s ceremonial crowns, necklaces, anklets, and other ornaments used during the famed Suna Besha.

Authorities confirmed that the process will not be conducted on holidays or special ritual days. The second phase of counting is scheduled for April 6, when more treasures will be inventoried.

Meanwhile, a security scare unfolded outside the temple premises. Two individuals were detained by Singhadwar police for operating drones near the temple.

The drones were reportedly flown from a house in Mati Mandap Sahi, about 500 metres southeast of the shrine. One drone circled above the Nilachakra and temple spire for a prolonged period, raising serious security concerns.

The incident occurred during the Bana Parivartan ritual, sparking questions about surveillance lapses even as the Ratna Bhandar inventory was underway under tight security.

The two detained individuals have been identified as Kalyan Das (31) and Samrat Biswas (20), both from the Hooghly region of West Bengal. Police seized a DJI company drone, its remote control, and mobile devices from them. A case has been registered against the two under Section 10(2) of the Aircraft Act.